Senators survive Rangers' push, advance to Eastern Conference Finals

NEW YORK — The Senators pulled off their Miracle on 34th St. on Tuesday night.

The Senators have done the unthinkable by sending the New York Rangers packing from the NHL playoffs. Ottawa completed the feat right in the opponent’s backyard with a dramatic 4-2 victory in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden to qualify for the East final for the first time since 2007 with a 4-2 series win.

Nobody expected the Senators to be one of the NHL’s Final Four, but they booked their ticket with a standout two-point effort by captain Erik Karlsson, while Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman also beat New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson had his best performance in this playoff series against the Rangers.

The Senators were able to survive a massive push by the Rangers in the third as only Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad scored for New York before Jean-Gabriel Pageau salted it away into an empty net. The two teams then shook hands as Ottawa qualified for its third conference final in franchise history.

“It feels great,” said Pageau with a smile. “It was a great team effort. It shows that we needed everyone. (Anderson) played outstanding the whole series and everyone did their job.

“But we don’t want to just sit on this now. We want to focus on the next series, but it feels really good to beat a really good team.”

The Senators returned to Ottawa immediately after the game to await the winner of Wednesday night’s Game 7 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center. The Senators are expected to start the East final on the road in Game 1 on Saturday and Game 2 on Monday.

It’s expected Game 3 will be played on Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre, with the possibility of a two-day break before Game 4 next Saturday, but the schedule hasn’t been finalized. This will give the Senators a couple of days to savour the victory and to prepare for their most difficult opponent of these playoffs.

The Rangers came out flying in the third and gave everything they had to stay alive. They made life difficult for the Senators by sending a message early.

Only 53 seconds into the third, with the Senators holding a 3-1 lead, Kreider broke in alone to move the Rangers back to within a goal.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with teammates Derick Brassard #19 and Marc Methot #3 after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers checks Alex Burrows #14 of the Ottawa Senators to the ice during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Ottawa Senators celebrate after Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York. The Senators won 4-2.Frank Franklin II/AP

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers jumps over Bobby Ryan #9 of the Ottawa Senators during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers fights Alex Burrows #14 of the Ottawa Senators during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with teammate Derick Brassard #19 after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) and Ottawa Senators' Alex Burrows (14) fights for control of the puck during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York.Frank Franklin II/AP

New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) and Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrate a Zibanejad goal with teammates during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York.Frank Franklin II/AP

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Ottawa Senators shake hands with the New York Rangers after Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York. The Senators won 4-2.Frank Franklin II/AP

New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) fights for control of the puck with Ottawa Senators' Marc Methot (3) during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York.Frank Franklin II/AP

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers checks Alex Burrows #14 of the Ottawa Senators to the ice during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Brady Skjei #76 of the New York Rangers fights Alex Burrows #14 of the Ottawa Senators during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring a goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) and Ottawa Senators' Alex Burrows (14) fights for control of the puck during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York.Frank Franklin II/AP

New York Rangers' Mika Zibanejad (93) and Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrate a Zibanejad goal with teammates during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York.Frank Franklin II/AP

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Dion Phaneuf #2 of the Ottawa Senators arrives for the game against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: (L-R) Chris Wideman #6, Tommy Wingels #57 and Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators arrive to play against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with teammates Clarke MacArthur #16 and Erik Karlsson #65 after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with teammates Clarke MacArthur #16 and Erik Karlsson #65 after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mike Condon #1 of the Ottawa Senators arrives for the game against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mark Stone #61 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with teammate Clarke MacArthur #16 after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators and Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers skate for the puck during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers and Alex Burrows #14 of the Ottawa Senators skate for the puck during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators looks on during the second period against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Ottawa Senators' Mark Stone (61) and Erik Karlsson (65) celebrate with teammates during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York. The Senators won 4-2.Frank Franklin II/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators makes a save against Jesper Fast #19 of the New York Rangers during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers shakes hands with Bobby Ryan #9 of the Ottawa Senators after Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers with a score of 4 to 2.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

New York Rangers' Chris Kreider (20) shoots the puck past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) for a goal as Cody Ceci (5) watches during the third period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York. The Senators won 4-2.Frank Franklin II/AP

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers reacts after losing to the Ottawa Senators with a score of 4 to 2 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers reacts with his teammates after losing Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Ottawa Senators during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers reacts after Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators scored an open net goal during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: The New York Rangers skate off the ice after losing to Ottawa Senators with a score of 4 to 2 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with his teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with his teammates after scoring an empty net goal against the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates an empty net goal scored by Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 against the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates with his teammates after defeating the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers with a score if 4 to 2.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers shakes hands with Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators after Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers with a score of 4 to 2.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Tom Pyatt #10 of the Ottawa Senators checks Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Tom Pyatt #10 of the Ottawa Senators checks Brendan Smith #42 of the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 9, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

“I didn’t really change anything. It’s just one of those nights where we were better collectively as a group,” said Anderson. “It’s a credit to our guys by buckling down to get the job done.”

Through 40 minutes, the Senators were giving themselves a chance and were ahead 3-1 despite being outshot 24-21.

Only moments after Zibanejad brought the crowd to life with his second of the playoffs to pull the Rangers to within a goal, Karlsson took a pass from Bobby Ryan and fired it past Lundqvist at 15:52 to restore a two-goal lead for the Senators. Zibanejad had scored at 13:32 to get the Rangers on the board.

Stone, who has been a force in the past two games of this series, picked up where he left off in the first by firing it past Lundqvist from the top of the circle at 14:44 to give Ottawa a 2-0 lead. The Rangers felt Kyle Turris was offside, but after further review, it was ruled a goal by the league’s head office.

“The difference was the start,” said Stone. “If you look at those first two games, we were on our heels for the first 10-to-15 minutes. We just couldn’t get out of it.

“We beared down. We had a great first goal from Hoffman and we just kept pushing. We didn’t sit back. We just continued to move our legs.”

You have to give the Senators credit. They were able to dodge a bullet by killing off a double-minor to Derick Brassard for high-sticking Mats Zuccarello midway through the period. Not only did the Senators limit the Rangers’ scoring chances, Anderson was there to make the stops when they got opportunities.

For the first time in this series, the Senators opened the scoring. That came at 4:27 of the first when Hoffman beat Lundqvist on the second shot he faced in the game by tipping a point shot by Karlsson home.

“Throughout the course of the year, I feel we’ve matched up fairly even,” said Karlsson. “You look at the rosters and maybe they had some more depth, but we had belief in our group that if we did things the right way, we could get the job done.”

The Senators got the job done, but they finished the game without winger Viktor Stalberg, who left with an undisclosed injury.

Perhaps it was Brassard, the former Ranger, who enjoyed this the most.

“I’m not going to lie. It feels pretty good. I have a lot of respect for the guys in the dressing room, the coaches and the organization. They fought really hard. We just found a way to win,” said Brassard.

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